Completely deleting Linux and Grub when dual-booting

http://www.hungry-hackers.com/2009/...when-dual-boot-installed-with-windows-xp.html

1. Reboot your laptop with windows 98 start up disc or Windows XP CD and type the command “fixmbr”.

2. Above command will repair ur bootloader and rewrite ntldr which will replace grub loader of Linux and now you can see only Windows XP in the boot menu.

3. Now Boot up in Windows xp.

4. Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management

5. Go to Disk Management under “Storage”

6. Select your Hard Disk and then the linux partition.

7. Delete the linux partition this will delete linux and grub.

8. Thats it done now boot your laptop or desktop normally it will be booted by default in windows xp.


Does the same thing apply if one had Windows 7 instead of XP? I only have the MSDN ISO file of Windows 7. Thanks a lot.

 

i'd imagine so..its the same in vista too.

 

While the methods and tools for managing partitions under Windows may change from version to version, the process is pretty much as described in the OP. You load the appropriate disk manager software for the version of Windows you're running, and then select the Linux partitions and delete them. This will remove the Linux installation from your HDD. This must be done with care, as you will probably have more than one Linux partition to delete, and you should always only delete a partition when you're sure you don't need any of the data stored there.

The instructions for overwriting an installed GRUB bootloader, with a Windows bootloader, on your HDD's MBR, vary importantly from Windows version to version. Here are the relevant Microsoft support documents that describe each process for reinstalling the Windows bootloader;

Windows Vista and 7
Windows XP
Windows ME, 98, 95, and DOS 6.22

Each of these methods do assume a bootable Windows install medium, (like a CD). There are also other tools that can install the Windows bootloader without a Windows install CD, including;

Super Grub Disk
Ultimate Boot CD
Ultimate Boot CD for Windows

(You do need a bootable Windows install CD to initially create the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows). There's even instructions on how to overwrite the GRUB bootloader with the Windows bootloader, from a Linux LiveCD. It's covered for an Ubuntu (or Mint) LiveCD boot, at this post, of this thread, over at the Ubuntu Users forum. Here's another explanation of the same process, but with a bit more detail added.

Finally, here's a very good article that describes the mechanics of booting a computer with the GRUB bootloader.

Good Luck..